HCG versus lapband

well... I'm going to be a negative Nancy here. I've seen people do the HCG, and really didn't lose weight. They're consuming about 500 calories daily, and their body goes into starvation mode, so they're not keeping their metabolism going. Plus, I had a friend tell me that her tastebuds changed so much that the foods she was "allowed" to eat were making her sick, so she REALLY wasn't eating.

I'm a lapbander going on 2 years, and I've had nothing but issues with it. Earlier this year, I found out I have a leak in my band, and insurance will not cover any revisions, or removal. The only thing my surgeon wants me to do is to keep coming back on a monthly basis, pay $100 for each visit, and keep getting filled. Also, earlier this year, I had strep throat, and I started having more drainage. Well, when you have drainage, and when you try to eat, it forms into a big blob, and you can't pass it thru the lap band, causing you to get sick, causing you to not eat your proper nutrition. So, I've been on a plateau with the lap band.

Really.... in all honesty, ... using this site for 6 months has helped me lose more weight than the lap band has in 2 years. I wouldn't give this tool up for the world!

I have a friend that did HCG, lost a bunch of weight on it but was tired all the time, and then when she went back to eating normally gained it all back and then some. She said she was miserable when she was following the strict HCG diet, too.

My friends that have done lapband are a mixed bag. Some are having huge success with it and some are really struggling to drop any weight at all, but (to me) it seems a little better than the HCG. At least, they don't SEEM like they are constantly starving.

Unless you learn to eat better and look at it as a life style change, then you're wasting your time with either IHMO.

I'm looking into both and I've heard good things from both, and I know I have people that have tried both on here. So...your experiences please? No comments unless you have actually tried them, or know someone well that has please. And no being negative just for the sake of it either lol.

I am on HCG for a non-dietary related reason. I don't think it's had any impact on my weight but it's helped me with certain things like self control, however; that could also just be due to the HCG helping to correct the problem and it's just normal for me.

My aunt and uncle had something similar to Lapband but they've put a lot of the weight back on.

Is your weight that severe where you need something more invasive? Your picture doesn't really look like it. Have you tried some diet improvement and exercise?

dont you have to eat considerably less with both? why dont you just eat considerably less now, make healthy choices, throw out all junk, refuse to eat out, and exercise 3x a week? i'm not an expert in any way, and i'm new to weight loss, but i'm just thinking.... maybe??? i cut out pop ( i only drank on average 3 a week to begin with), cut down sugar and starchy foods, eat my fruit and vege servings/day and make sure i eat lean proteins...i've lost 13 lbs in about 35 days.

I would not recommend homeopathic HCG at all (unless you have seen a qualified homeopath who has prescribed it for you). It is a homeopathic preparation of a pregnancy hormone.

Homeopathic remedies can have a profound effect if used correctly (and this takes a lot of study & years of practice), by taking homeopathic HCG you risk screwing with your endocrine system - NOT something you want.

I don't personally study homeopathy so my knowledge is limited...but this is the response I got when I asked the homeopathy lecturer at my college.

being overweight is not something that should be cured by curbing the quantity of food you eat. It should be the types of food you eat. Neither of your presented options are your best options.

Just eat healthy and exercise! There is no secret to weight loss!

AMEN SISTER!!!

Well, I for one have lost over 50 lbs on HCG. I've had neighbors do lap band and are still struggling. One thing I will say about HCG, while you will likely lose weight (most lose 3/4 -1lb a day) it is very strict in the first 2 phases, phase 2 being the VLCD (500 calorie) phase and the foods are VERY limited. It can be very tough. That said, after the first week on phase 2 most cravings and hunger issues have subsided and you just get through it knowing it'll pay off in the end. Now, I've done 3 rounds of HCG. First one I lost 30lbs kept it off. 2nd lost 20, put back the whole 20lbs. 3rd lost that 20 again and have kept it off. I mention this because following the protocol after completion is VERY important. The thing about HCG is it can be a fast way to get the initial pounds off. The bad thing is most people treat it like a 'diet' and don't read the entire protocol to make the permanent life changes to keep the weight off permanently. This is the danger spot. Go back to your old ways after done you WILL gain back all the weight you lost and probably then some again. I've been off for 6 months and notice if I get too out of hand one stuff I'll put on some weight. But I follow the protocol immediatly (steak day) to address that and immediately return to my set point. This is a good start for HCG, find the Pounds and Inches guide online and read it. Lapband to me is WAY more extrme. Surgery in my mind is a last ditch effort. Try HCG first and if you don't lose there lapband or bypass may be the ticket for you. HCG is NOT a fraud if done by a real ND or other professional. HCG with holistic drops IS a fraud and should be avoided. I did HCG under ND care and it was tough, but VERY effective. It's not cheap but it does work and any speaking against it have likely not gone to a professional for the program. DMPIZZA has a point about more than 500 calories but has obviously not read the entire protocol to understand HOW and WHEN to add more calories and variety back in. I'm currently at 1600 calories a day and mostly stay within my 2lbs of goal weight. Any further questions about HCG I'll be happy to address, just PM me.

As for the lapband - good luck finding a surgeon who will ethically perform the procedure on you. . .looking at your photo it doesn't seem that you have much more weight to lose.

I feel that unless the procedure is for life-saving (ie. hundreds of pounds) purposes it should not be done... you are making a permanent change to the anatomy of your digestive system and this is not to be taken lightly because you will have to change your entire life forever.

In all actuality, any surgeon will perform the surgery on you, as long as you have the cash for it. Most insurance companies now want you to be a certain BMI before the procedure will even be considered. Even then, you have to show proof sometimes of you trying other non-surgical diets, like Weight Watchers, a doctor-written diet plan, etc.... and show that it wasn't effective.

Luckily there are insurance companies. . .assuming you guys are in the USA where the medical industry is extremely different and very driven by $$. . . i'm sure you're probably right that any surgeon would do it for the money. But would that be doing it ethically?

Ok look...I have been on and off of diets my whole life, I have a lot of self control issues and basically I have lost a lot of faith that I can do this on my own. I understand that eating right and exercising will get you to lose weight, OBVIOUSLY. I never said it didn't. I just feel like I need some help that my medical insurance will cover because I don't have money to hire a trainer or anything expensive. Not everyone has the same success by themselves. I hate how every time I post on the forums I feel attacked, all I wanted was some personal experiences from a neutral standpoint, thank you for the people that did give me that. But I don't like feeling yelled at, I wouldn't do that to anyone else. I'm not trying to find a shortcut or a crutch, just a helping hand. I would still put in all the work that your supposed to put in in achieving a healthier lifestyle.

What's funny about this is people DO usually yell and make snarky comments about HCG, (myself included) but none of that happened here. You have not been attacked from what I can see. I just read a lot of comments from people hoping that you find a healthy way to achieve your goals. You just didn't get any of the answers that you WANTED to hear. I mean this sincerely, good luck. You have everything in front of you. I personally know people who have had success with weight loss surgery, (my very best friend) and I know one person who actually DIED. So, there you go.

I personally made sure not to attack and see noone here attacking either. karin is right on.

this is actually the most civil discussion of these topics I have ever seen here.

(and I still say "neither")

You weren't, Kelly...some people take offense at anything that doesn't directly agree with what they want to hear.

Apparently the truth hurts.

I do not know anyone personally who has done HCG, so my only comment on that would be that I do not think it is healthy.

I do know someone (a coworker) who had the lap band procedure and she has had nothing but issues with it. She initially lost weight and now has gained all of it back.